Corruption: FCT Education Operatives Sell Employment Offers At N300,000 Each

October 18, 2016

Some operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Department of Science and Technology, Utako, have been confirmed to be selling employment offers to applicants at the rate of N300,000 each.

According to informed sources, the selling of the employment offers is being perpetrated by middle level staff with the connivance of the top level operatives who are in the habit of looking the other way.

It was gathered that recently, about 100 employment opportunities, mainly in the teaching line, were created to absorb those that have been working as Parents Teachers Association (PTA) staff in various schools under the Department, but that the corrupt operatives cornered the opportunities by selling the offers to the highest bidders.

It was gathered that most of the people who ended up buying the offers are children of wealthy ones who have not been in the system and who are not qualified for the job.

An aggrieved PTA staff who has been working in one of the schools for the past three and half years said: “those who were offered the jobs and posted to the various schools are so young and inexperienced that it might affect the education standards of the schools involved.

“Because of greediness and corruption, those who have been working under the PTA for over three years, and who are supposed to be the automatic beneficiaries of the offers have been sidelined.”

It was learnt that similar situation occurred some years back in the FCT secondary Education Board (SEB) but that it eventually led to the identification of the perpetrators who were later sacked with ignominy.

The Department of Science and Technology was created from SEB few years ago, to take special care of science and technology education.

Efforts to get the Director of the Department, Mrs. Rosemary Umana to comment on the sales of the employment offers by people under her proved abortive as she was said to be out of the office for more than five times such attempts were made. [myad]

High And Low Of American Presidential Campaigns, By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

Greenbarge Reporters

October 18, 2016

If the US 2016 election were a movie it will get an X-rating. I have been a close observer of US elections since 1976 and have never seen anything like the ongoing 2016 US federal presidential elections. It is an election which if I have minor children still in the home, I would match them out of the living room when election news is on. It would have been a denial of the opportunity to teach them how things work in this country, but it would also have been an example of how things don’t work and should not work. It would have been a misrepresentation of US politics.
About the Republican presidential candidate all we hear and see is a parade of women accusing him of sexual harassment. We hear “he touched my vagina”, “he pushed me to the wall and kissed me,” “he walked into our dressing room when some of the girls were naked,” and other pornographic declarations. We see the presidential candidate bragging of what he did or was allowed to do to girls because he is a celebrity, how he automatically kisses girls, an attraction that is magnetic in effect. We hear him denying the allegations using such words as she is not attractive enough for me; describing women’s body parts, and such other vulgar anecdotes.
We hear a rehearsal from another set of women who accused former President Bill Clinton of comparable actions of rape, intimidation, and assault. Often in graphic details. One gets the impression that all they do in New-York/Washington DC is have forced sex; that women are nothing but sex toys for men. I know it is not so and that is why I will ask my minor kids if they were still at home to “go to their rooms” when evening news comes on.
It is not just the horrible news items of sex escapades but news about the Democratic presidential candidate is about email leaks. The leaks portray a double personality who says one thing in public and the opposite in private. We hear each presidential candidate being accused of lying, of deceit, we hear shouts of “lock her up” and bragging on jailing a candidate after the elections if a candidate wins, just as third world victorious candidates do. We hear denigrating of huge segments of our society. The words used are not genteel. We hear divisiveness along class, race, religion, national origins and immigration statuses, economic equality etc. lines.
Are these the kinds of things I want my minor children to know about USA? They should go to their rooms.
In the last several weeks we have not heard or understood the details of how Mr. Trump would govern the country if elected. Equally we are not hearing from Mrs. Clinton how she would govern either. We are left with extrapolating what will happen based on speeches and writings by candidates. The so-called debates were/are about name callings and denigrating each candidate, “low energy,” for an example. We see candidates denying what they had said earlier even when we have videos to prove the contrary. We hear of election riggings as already taking place.
Can and will America survive the 2016 elections? I have to answer in the affirmative because the country has strong institutions. This is the first time an election has been this bad since I started paying attention. But if we have a succession of 2016, my answer may change.
The credibility of the results of this election is under sever challenge.

Benjamin Aduba wrote in from Boston, Massachusetts. [myad]

UNICEF Insists That Released Chibok Girls Need Support To Rebuild Shattered Lives

Greenbarge Reporters

October 18, 2016

The United Nations Education Funds (UNICEF) has taken a look at the emotional reunification with their families, of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two years ago, and concluded that they need intensive support to rebuild their shattered lives.

In a statement, UNICEF said that the release of the girls is great news “and we are delighted to see the girls back with their families, but we must keep pressing for all the women and children held by Boko Haram to be freed.”

According to the statement, the UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Gianfranco Rotigliano, said: “we must bear in mind that all of those who have been held by Boko Haram will face a long and difficult process to rebuild their lives after the indescribable trauma they have suffered.”

The more than 200 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014 are among thousands of women and girls that UNICEF estimates have been held and subjected to violence by the group.

UNICEF said that it has supported hundreds of women and girls who have already been released or escaped from Boko Haram.

It quoted the girls as having reported that they have been subjected to rape – frequently in the form of forced “marriages” – beatings, intimidation and starvation during their captivity. Many returned pregnant or with babies as a result of rape.

UNICEF noted with concern that the girls who eventually make it to safety from Boko Haram, they are often ill, malnourished, traumatized and exhausted, and that they are in need of medical attention and psychosocial support so they can begin to come to terms with their experiences and reintegrate with their families and communities.

“Frequently, returning to their families and communities is the beginning of a new ordeal for the girls, as the sexual violence they have suffered often results in stigmatization. People are also often afraid the girls have been indoctrinated by Boko Haram and that they pose a threat to their communities. The use by Boko Haram of children – mostly girls – as so called ‘suicide’ bombers has fuelled such fears. Children born as a result of the sexual violence are at even greater risk of rejection, abandonment and violence.

“Since January, UNICEF and its partner International Alert have been providing psychosocial support for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence at the hands of Boko Haram. UNICEF and International Alert are also working with affected communities through a network of trained religious and community leaders to promote acceptance and to address negative perceptions that hamper the reintegration of women and girls who have suffered such violence.

“Funding from the Swedish International Development Agency and the UK Department for International Development has so far this year enabled UNICEF to provide a comprehensive programme of reintegration assistance to more than 750 women and girls subjected to Boko Haram-related sexual violence.

“With such large numbers of women and girls having been held by the group, however, the long-term provision of much-needed support remains heavily underfunded.” [myad]

Dance Of Freedom For Chibok Girls

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

Some of the Chibok school girls who were released by their captors for over two years, Boko Haram, dance heartly at a special Church Thanksgiving service in Abuja, recently. [myad]

Presidential Committee Wants Judicial Council To Stop Corrupt Judges From Presiding Over Cases

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to stop judges that have so far been indicted of corruption from presiding over cases in courts until they are cleared of the allegation.

The Executive Secretary of the Committee, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, told newsmen in Abuja that Judges suspected of complicity in financial crimes should not preside over cases in court.

“The reason is because all over the world, if a Judge is appearing before another court on criminal charges, all cases before him should be shut.”

Also, Chairman of the Committee, Professor Itse Sagey said that a corrupt Judge is committing a crime against humanity, adding that those who have criticized the Department of State Services (DSS), have not looked at the implication of judicial corruption.

“Any judge who is corrupt is committing a crime against humanity. He destroys our confidence on the State; it encourages people to resort to self-help.

“There are some governors who did not win election, yet judges gave vent to that. If the judiciary is corrupt, it is the only body that has the power of life and death over Nigerians.

“We need the judiciary, we need an upright judiciary. If we don’t put the judiciary right, a judiciary with moral authority, then we have no government.”

He said that the moral authority of past Supreme Court judges had crashed, adding: “having fallen, ants can climb it. When a judge is corrupt he should be treated like one of us.” [myad]

Parents Complain Of Continued Detention Of Ese Oruru As Lover Moves Around Freely

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

The parents of Ese Oruru, the controversial Bayelsa girl who was alleged to have been abducted and forced into marriage by a Kano man, Yususan Dahir, have complained that their daughter and the baby she later gave birth to are still being detained in Yenagoa as her lover had since been give bail and is moving freely around now.

The parents, who were reacting to the adjournment of case, by the trial judge, Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, to December 8, 2016, appealed to the governments of Bayelsa and Delta states to facilitate the release of the teenager who has been under “protective custody” since the police took over her case.

They said that it is an irony that while the accused person, Yunusa is enjoying freedom on bal, the victim, Ese Oruru, is being denied the same freedom under the guise of being in protective custody. They insisted that the conditions that Ese, who gave birth to a baby girl on May 25, 2016 while in police care at the police officers’ mess in Yenagoa and her baby are being kept, was not conducive for the welfare of both of them.

Dahiru was arraigned on March 8, 2016 at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, on charges of criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, but was eventually granted bail.

Ese’s father, Mr. Charles Oruru, expressed sadness over his daughter’s stay at the police officers mess with the new born baby, arguing that Ese was supposed to have returned to school.

“My daughter has been yearning and even crying to go back to school as her classmates are now ahead of her. She has lost a whole year to this saga and she is still in Police protective custody while the accused is enjoying freedom on bail.

“I am begging the Delta government, Nigeria, and the world at large to come to our aid. Nowadays, without education one is going nowhere, so she is not doing anything in their custody, while the accused moves freely and she is suffering there”, he said.

Oruru added, “I have called on the Delta government to assist because I have five children of which Ese is the second to the last child, so my state should come to my family’s aid,” he appealed.

The mother of Ese, Mrs Rose Oruru, said her daughter was not being properly taken care of as a nursing mother, with regards to nutrition and psychological care in a homely environment.

She said: “People from Bayelsa have been assisting us and even the police officers; we want to leave there to our house because the place (Police Officers Mess) is not a good place to stay and bring up a new born baby.

“We are just abandoned in a room that we are not even allowed to go out, we stay with our trash bin which smells, we and the new born baby are compelled to breathe the offensive smell.

“So the world should note that we are being marginalized for no reason, and even the boy Yunusa still owes me some money after taking my daughter to Kano to impregnate her for me.” [myad]

University Of Lagos Expels 125 Students, Rusticates 198 Others

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

Authorities of the University of Lagos have expelled 125 students and rusticated 198 others for various offences, including examination malpractices during last academic session.

The lists of the affected students have been published on the university’s website.

The institution’s Deputy Registrar on Information, Mr. Toyin Adebule, confirmed the expulsion and estimation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Adebule said that the university would soon publish and display the names and photographs of the students in the media, adding that the action was in line with the university’s zero tolerance for examination malpractices and other vices on the campus.

“Yes we have published some names on our website and these students will be punished in various degrees, depending on the severity. Last session, a number of students were caught in various forms of malpractices during their examinations.

“Some were found cheating during the examination with “micro sheets” while others were hired as surrogates to write papers for others.

“Others were caught smoking weeds (Marijuana) right in their halls of residence by their colleagues and reported to the university authorities.

“For those who were caught impersonating, writing examinations for others, they will face outright expulsion.”

Adebule said the other categories of students, such as those caught with micro sheets and the smokers would face suspension ranging from two to four semesters.

“In other to get the desired effect of their various punishments, we are planning to publish all their names as well as display their photographs all over the campus in the next one week.

“We shall carry out this measure in all the departments and faculties in the institution.

“This is to help the university ensure that the affected students will have nowhere to hibernate on campus.

“By doing this, the affected students would know that the university want to ensure total compliance to the sanction and would not want to be seen anywhere around the campus.”

Adebule said that before every examination, the university normally makes available the rules and regulations for the students to abide by.

He said that such rules and regulations were usually accompanied by various sanctions for defaulters.

According to him, the university will continue to do all it can to sustain set standards and best practices as obtained in other top universities around the world.

Adebule said that the development had nothing to do with those involved in the recent students’ riot. (NAN). [myad]

60 Percent Of Children In IDPs Don’t Know Their Parents, President Buhari Reveals

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has looked beyond the release of Chibok school girls by their captors, Boko Haram insurgents fearing that the biggest problem now is the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He said that there out of over 2 million of IDPs, 60 percent of the children don’t know their parents, or where they come from.
President Buhari who spoke today, Monday at a meeting with the leader of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Peter Maurer, said that the issue of IDPs made up of mainly women and children is weighing heavily on government.
The President, who commended the role played by ICRC in the recent release of the 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls even as he asked for sustained humanitarian interest in Nigeria.
President Buhari said that his administration is prepared to continue talks with the Boko Haram insurgent group, “as long as they agree to involve international agencies like ICRC.
“We’ve seen the result of recent talks, 21 of the Chibok girls are back,” the President said, referring to the role played by ICRC in providing immediate humanitarian assistance to the girls, who had spent over 900 days in the hands of their abductors.
On rebuilding of destroyed infrastructure, President Buhari said it was a priority of government, noting that the G7 had equally indicated support, which Nigeria heartily welcomed.
“We appreciate all your efforts. I am pleased you recognized that our military is cooperating with civil authorities, and respecting humanitarian issues. It is a difficult time for Nigeria. About 27 of our 36 states couldn’t pay salaries when we came last year, and we are still struggling with that. But we will get out of it,” the President said.
Maurer, the ICRC President, said their operation in the Lake Chad region is the second largest in the world, after Syria, adding that there are nutritional, health, water and sanitation issues in the North-east, in addition to rebuilding of infrastructure.
“We are ready to engage and play supportive role in responding to crisis in Nigeria. Security is a lot better than it was a year ago, but humanitarian problems are serious, and don’t disappear so quickly,” Maurer said.
The ICRC President also commended Nigeria for granting increased access to detainees, and exchanges with the Armed Forces. He added: “Detention facilities have improved, there are fewer deaths, and things are better health-wise.” [myad]

Fani-Kayode To Buhari: If You Want To Deal With Me, Face Me, Leave My Wife, Kid Alone

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

Former Nigeria Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to leave his wife and eight-month-old son out of his determination to deal with him.

He asked the President “why doesn’t he face me like a man if he wants to deal with me instead of trying to harm and hurt my 8 month old son and wife.

In a statement today, Monday, announcing the arrest of his wife, Precious Chikwendu and son, Aragorn by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Fani-Kayode, beleieved that their arrest was aimed at getting at him.

He narrated how his wife went to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to see Governor Ayodele Fayose when and how she stopped at the branch of Access Bank in the town to withdraw money but that the staff of the Bank invited the operatives of the EFCC who stormed the Bank and detained, brutalized and humiliated Chikwendu.

His statement reads thus:

This government is sick and cowardly and so are the EFCC. If you have a problem with me, face me and leave my family alone. My wife travelled to Ado Ekiti to see my friend and brother Governor Fayose and his family.

They were on their way out of town when they went to Access Bank in Ado Ekiti to get some money.

When they got there, my 8 month old son Aragorn and wife Precious Chikwendu were illegally detained, brutalized and put under arrest on the orders of the EFCC at a bank in Ado Ekiti today.

She has never had any business with me, she has never been formally invited by the EFCC or asked any questions about her transactions and neither have they written to her on any issue even though they are always sending letters to my house and sending people there.

If Buhari wants to deal with me why doesn’t he face me like a man instead of trying to harm and hurt my 8 month old son and wife.

Had it not been for the intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose they would have been taken them away and subjected them to all manner of harm and indignities simply because she is married to me.

This was an account that has 200,000 naira in it and that has never had more than 500,000.

She has operated it since 2005 and she stopped using it in 2013. The account has no connection with me and I did not know it existed till today.

In an attempt to starve and harass me and my family all my accounts and wife’s accounts have been frozen.

Now they are resorting to arresting peoples wives and children for no just cause.

I thank God for Gov. Fayose and the people of Ado Ekiti who stormed the bank and freed my wife from this illegal detention and attempt to kidnap them.

Had it not been for the governor’s intervention and presence, the bank would have been burnt down by the crowd. My family have since left Ekiti State.

This is Buhari’s Nigeria and we will resist his wickedness and tyranny.

We intend to sue the bank and to sue the EFCC for this illegal and wicked action. They have no right to do this. If they want to see my wife all they need to do is to invite her. We have nothing to fear. They do not need to be so primitive and barbaric to people.‎” [myad]

President Buhari Admires Professor Akin Mabogunje’s Integrity At 85

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended an erudite Nigeria scholar and quintessential public servant, Professor Akin Mabogunje for having served the country with integrity as he turns 85 tomorrow, 18th.
In a birthday greeting issued by the special advised to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said that Professor Akin had consistently served humanity through extensive research, teaching and consulting across many national and global institutions.
He said that the intellectual and moral strength of the renowned scholar prepared him at an early stage for the numerous leadership roles before him; paving the way for a rigorous and successful academic career, and contributions to infrastructure development, urban and regional planning and public sector banking.
President Buhari commended the patriotism and commitment of Professor Akin in serving, with integrity, on several boards of the Federal Government over many years, sharing his knowledge and skills to reposition cities, and working tirelessly to alleviate poverty through partnerships with the World Bank and the United Nations.
The President prayed to God to grant the renowned town planner longer life, good health and strength to continue serving his country and humanity. [myad]

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